Mac 101: change keyboard modifier keys with a Windows keyboard

You may recall that one of Apple’s slogans when the Mac mini was released was BYOKM-bring your own keyboard and mouse. Well a lot of those keyboards will of course be Windows keyboards, and while they work fine on a Mac, there’s one particularly annoying thing…[...] Thanks to verge for providing this nice story on Digg.

What other users say about this:

12 Effective Strategies Apple Uses to Create Loyal Customers

“When shoppers sleep outside of stores just to be one of the first to buy an iPhone, it’s obvious that Apple Inc. is a company that enjoys fanatical brand loyalty. However, this brand success is not a result of dumb luck or forces beyond Apple’s control; it’s part of a well-thought-out plan to deliver strong products and create an Apple culture.”[...] Thanks to longdongsilver7 for providing this nice story on Digg.

What other users say about this:

Nescirian: To summarise:
http://cache.gizmodo.com/gadgets/images/iProduct.gif

jpincheira: I don’t really care ’bout it. Apple is just good at design, love their products designs even if they’re not pretty cutting-edge, but design says it all.

britoca: fuck apple.

flyinsquirrel: configured a Mac Pro:

Memory upgrades
Apple: 1 2GB (4 x 512MB) Add $299
Newegg 1: Mac memory http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148046 (2×1gb) $176.49
Newegg 2: PC memory http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161677 $67.99
Second hard drive
Apple: 500GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s [Add $329]
Newegg: Same specs $99

Apple: Apple Cinema Display (20″ flat panel) [Add $599]
Newegg 1: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009101 26″ $599
Newegg 2: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009108 20″ $199 (on sale for $179 when i checked)
2 usb and 2 firewire ports are nice but are they worth an extra 400 bucks?

I’d love to support apple but come on people this is a fucking ripoff

the only thing apple has proved itself usefull is in gadgets, the same way microsoft has proved usefull in games (granted through bungie) and office software

whatthefu: “Proprietary formats: Apple products are often not compatible for use with other systems, at least where customer transitions are concerned. If a user has a digital music collection comprised entirely of .aac files, it’s not likely he’ll want to start from scratch with a new MP3 player that won’t accept them. Instead, this customer will probably look at replacing his old Mac with a new Apple model when the time comes.”

How the fuck is that a good thing?

elder: it’s true, but the fact is that mac.. just works instead of a pc. this is how Apple creates fanatics customers: By providing a good product (too often that cost too much)

jabberwolf: Apple is a CULT.They make the customers think THEY had the hand in the creation of the product. That THEY will have the newest innovation on the block. So basically Apple lies. They miss alot of features that other products already have and mostly spin rather then create anything new.
They have the most patents applied but not passed. They try to trademark every name they can to steal market share in that manner as well.
For this trademark and logo, you are allowed to give Apple more $$ for being the idiot you are for buying the same products others have.

PC users really dont give a dam who the maker is so long as it works. There was a review of customer service ratings- both Apple and Gateway were tied. The difference is, for PC’s you can get 3rd party products that arent making you pay for marketing.

Another trap Apple makes users believe is that Apple can run more OS’s then PCs can. Um thats because Apple participates in the lock down of their OS and restricts it to their hardware. Which is another point, that hardware is less available to Macs and so are very useful drivers only found for WZ or Ubuntu – SLI or Crossfire for instance.

There is also the DRM debate. Apple capitalized on Napster’s demise and offered the record companies their DRM to sell to customers on all their ipods. Now Jobs , 5 yrs later after making billions, is claiming he wants to do away with it? If the macfans believe in that tripe, then they are not only cult members, they are retarded!

johanm: slightly more appealing that RIAA’s “join us or we will sue you” approach

edwartica: I wonder if apple music is ever going to resurect their lawsuit, considering (if I remember right) they reached an agreement that apple computers would NOT get into the music industry.

littlecynicism: I love apple as a company, but I hate their OS.

And, the truth is, that while the guy who plays Mac on their commercial is really attractive…I like PC better. Mac is too cool and I feel for PC. Its a little bit alienating to be less cool than your computer.

xtraa: What a horrible crime to create satisfied customers with a productline that fits.

It would be better to act like Sony and MS: take care that nothing works together.

So the morons have to buy twice.

Neurothustra: “Complete solutions: Apple’s products complement and complete each other. Buy an iPod, and you can download music via iTunes. For the average user, most Mac programs are produced by Apple. This sort of control over the entire user process, from hardware to software, strengthens customer loyalty. Apple users generally don’t have to stray to find products and solutions they want.”

Funny how this is considered good for Mac, but when Windows does it, it’s Anti-Trust.

smoothdogg00: Out with the iFanBoys! Revolution!

Shawn4168: Interesting how #5 (proprietary formats) is exactly what keeps me from ever becoming an Apple customer.

eatbeefjerky: The ONLY reason Apple products sell is because they look pretty. That’s it. In 2000, how many people had Macs? Not that many. Not a whole lot of people. Why? They weren’t especially pretty, were they? Then they started coming out with the fruity colored iMacs, and the iPods, and OSX and more iPods and more shiny white Macs and Macbooks… and people started buying them! Now all these Apple fanboys and girls tout the superiority of OSX and all of Apple’s products, but really… there’s nothing all that special about them except how pretty they are. Which is nice, everyone likes pretty machines… but unless you really really like paying extra for shiny white plastic or you really really really really REALLY like OSX, there’s no real reason to buy a Mac over a PC (particularly a PC on which you plan to run Linux).

OS X GUI iPhone Unlock Guide

Unlock your iPhone easily using the GUI app! We have a full guide with screenshots for every step…[...] Thanks to poetic_folly for providing this nice story on Digg.

What other users say about this:

abduzeedo: it took me some time to do it, however it’s pretty easy to follow and worked perfectly with my Brazilian carrier…

daveday: One of the most ‘easy to follow’ tutorials ever! Worked like a charm, thank you.

blackbelt: worked perfectly with my iPhone here in brazil… great tutorial

gmanacsa: The detailed, step-by-step tutorial and copious screenshots were a huge help. Worked like a charm, even when procedures I tried from other sites failed.

arvindpuri: awesome, it worked flawlessly

buxey: great tutorial for a mac!

iTunes movie rentals round 2: 30 days, $2.99

Rumors of movie rentals coming to the iTunes Store are back, with unconfirmed details and empty hope. Still, it sure would be cool and could give the Apple TV a whole reason to exist.[...] Thanks to verge for providing this nice story on Digg.

What other users say about this:

Desktop Show and Tell, Mac Edition

Last week we took a look at the Windows desktops of our readers, and now we’re back for week two of our Desktop Show and Tell. Today’s focus: Macs. There’s no better way to learn than with a little show and tell from our peers, and we’ve got buckets of good looking, tweaked out Mac desktops for you to look at, so let’s get to it.[...] Thanks to mklopez for providing this nice story on Digg.

What other users say about this:

jrb985: Its interesting to see how both the Windows (http://lifehacker.com/software/top/desktop-show-and-tell-windows-edition-296875.php) and Mac systems have the same sort of feel (docks, minimalism…)

mds76: I love this geek version of voyeurism.

Does the iPhone Still Matter?

After Apple cut the price by $200 and introduced an iPod that does a lot of the same stuff, the Messiah Phone is looking very mortal. When someone asks me “Should I buy an iPhone?” even at the seemingly bargain price of $399, I say “No.” Here’s why.[...] Thanks to mklopez for providing this nice story on Digg.

What other users say about this:

First iPod Touch Review @ PCMag

When the iPhone came out in June, many people (myself included) loved it, but wanted it without the phone—and that pesky two-year contract with AT&T Wireless. I’m no Luddite, but I don’t want my personal media player to ring in the middle of a song.[...] Thanks to schwigs for providing this nice story on Digg.

What other users say about this:

clasp: Is it too much to hope for another immediate price drop from Apple?

HumanRecall: Yes -7 diggs you fucking sheep fuckers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

uidzero: Why is PC mag saying the Ipod has a slightly better screen and Engadget saying the Iphone has the slightly better screen?

amiller311: “I don’t want my personal media player to ring in the middle of a song.”

I’m pretty sure you can turn the phone off for those times you simply want to listen to music or watch a movie without being interrupted. The two-year contract from ATT is another story though…

jdowney: looks like they are disabling the bluetooth feature, not that big of a deal as it seems like it will be either a future firmware update or a nex gen feature. For most people 16gb is just fine, but just like the first generations of regular ipod with hdd the next generations of the ipod touch will really be awsome.

ViperX116: I would still like to know how the music controls would work if the player is in your pocket or something. Would it be easy/not easy to control? Do I need to look at the screen to touch the right icons?

TTURabble: I read the part about double clicking the home button to bring up the music controls over any other screen, I hope they update the firmware on the iPhone to include this.

Sounds like a neat little device for the people who don’t want the iPhone (ATT contract and whatnot) I’m quickly becoming an apple convert.

cacoe: “Touching it will pour scalding hot coffee onto your lap. Just kidding”

LOL! He almost got me!

ThankTheCheese: anyone know if the earphones have the special iPhone squeeze to pause/skip feature? The article mentions the earphones briefly, but does not mention this.

quehegan: get an archos 605 wifi. better then any ipod product.
http://www.archos.com/store_us/product.html?country=us&lang=en&prod_id=0000000438

davidrossiii: no calendar event editing means i’m not buying it

RealHyperX: Why so much apple hate lately?

starexplorer: A quick preview from HowStuffWorks on how the iPod Touch Works.
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ipod-touch.htm

digitalelite: poopshits?!

HumanRecall: Hell my Archos 402 Cam ( as in camcorder and camera ) with 20 gig hard drive is just as good as this and i bought it 2 yrs ago Xmas past for $320

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1869797,00.asp
http://reviews.cnet.com/portable-video-players-pvps/archos-gmini-402-camcorder/4505-6499_7-31595017.html

or dish Pocket
http://www.pocketdish.com/av402e.jsp

Apple calls on UK press as iPhone talk swirls

Apple Inc is calling a London news conference next Tuesday as speculation mounts that the consumer electronics guru will unveil long-awaited plans to bring its iconic iPhone cell phones to Europe.[...] Thanks to gokss for providing this nice story on Digg.

What other users say about this:

3G iPhones will arrive before Christmas

An analyst is predicting that 3G iPhones will appear before the end of the year, based partly on the recent deal with InterDigital for 3G technology.[...] Thanks to obeezy for providing this nice story on Digg.

What other users say about this:

netburnr: Im willing to bet everything I have there will be no 3g iPhone anytime soon. Steve himself said that “this is the christmas lineup” in the iPod announcement.

Not to mention the current hold on new 3g phones due to the patent infringement case….

Apple “Mum is no longer the word” press event 18 September

Word on the high street is that Apple is holding a press briefing at their Regent Street Apple store on September 18th. The invites are circulating as we speak to various members of the UK press. That’s not exactly the biggest of venues for a 3G iPhone launch for Europe but who knows? Really, does anybody know?[...] Thanks to macbot for providing this nice story on Digg.

What other users say about this:

akatsuki: O2 gets the iPhone. That is all.

Johndrin: buuuty hell (British accent)

shoook: 3 words: Edge Blows Hard

blackfeathers: re:”mum is no longer the word” dad / dud / pops / father is the word.

kittnerrules: This is uninteresting and stupid.

sudsandsoda: the apple website sais…

Due to a private event, the store will be closed on Tuesday September 18th until 4.00 pm. We apologise for any inconvenience.

thats 6 whole hours… better be summat good!

luxette: You’d think they would save the big stuff for the Apple Expo the following week.
My assumption is that this event will be something UK-centric.

tarz4n: “Mum is no longer the word” i think of this as “now you can speak” = iPhone in Europe

Yuusharo: I strongly believe we will see the official iPhone release as well as information on the carrier. It may or not be 3G, but one thing I’m certain of is we will NOT see a release of a 3G phone in the US this year. The Apple lineup for the US market is pretty much set for the Christmas season. Besides, its not consistent with Apple to release more than one version of a product at the same time. They like things to be kept simple.

digitallysick: Iphoneshuffle

AHardDaysNight: I’m not saying there won’t be a Beatles announcement, but I have reliable info that there is a Europe iPhone announcement

LeonardNimrod: Despite my desire for a 3G iPhone, I’ve been contemplating the facts of this late announcement. Here are the facts and the only possble conclusion…

• Venue is ONLY in London Apple Store
• Press only
• Less than one week notice
• Paris-Expo in 2 weeks

This is going to be the release of videos on iTunes Store UK. Nothing less;nothing more.

tilezzzzz: I think it will be about the IPhone for Europe (Giving it a release date) – and I think it will probably be the exact same version as in the US.
This was posted in the comments of the engadget story….

“I work at the store and we’ve been given 50 or so boxes to keep secure, haven’t got a clue whats in them though, but they’re under CCTV pretty much 24/7″

If thats true, it prety much rules out anything to do with the beatles (why would they need that many boxes to announce some beatles deal?), and All the IPod stuff has already been anounced, No point bringing out any different versions just for Europe.

So in brief, Europe Iphone Launch, no 3G. (Obviousley just a guess )

SilverRocket: Say the word, and you’ll be free. Say the word, and be like me. Say the word, love.

protogenxl: Haven’t you heard? The Bird is the word.